First time here? Check out the site's "greatest hits" or read a random post from the archives. Feel free to ask a question, and consider subscribing to the latest posts via RSS or e-mail. Thanks for visiting!

A Washington-bound Alaska Airlines flight diverted to Denver in order to inspect a “nick” in its paint. The chip was found near the rear of the plane, and had been detected by catering crews on the ground in Seattle.

This isn’t about custom detailing the paint job or polishing the chrome, though thankfully it wasn’t serious damage. I can understand the precaution, especially after the incident last December when a ground worker ran equipment into the side of the aircraft, creasing the outer hull. The damage went unnoticed (or unreported) until the plane was airborne and the crease turned into a hole. The cabin’s depressurization was blogged by passengers (with photos). And just two days before the most recent “chipped paint” incident, another Alaska Airlines aircraft was damaged by a jetway operator in Seattle.

But if the catering crew noticed damage on the ground, why was the plane ever allowed to depart Seattle in the first place? If it’s serious enough to divert the plane, it’s serious enough to ground the plane before takeoff. Why wasn’t this reported to the pilot or the airline earlier??

And what’s up with the AP’s coverage? It focuses more on the fact that a Congressman was on board the flight, and missed a vote, as well as his dinner reservation. Poor fella. That’s the key takeaway? Jeez!

(image)